OKprairie,

I have never grown astilbes so I can't help you there.

But on caladiums.....I have moved them with little problem, so think you can do it without too much worry. I love 'em too, and couldn't live without them to brighten up my shade garden. :) You also could probably dig some right back up and move them now before they sprout....assuming you know exactly where they are!

Dawn

I have astilbe, but have never bought the prepackaged bare root plants like you mention. I have always bought them in pots. I have astilbe arendsii 'Visions in Pink', 'Visions', and just the regular pink astilbe. The regular pink has been in the ground for about 6 years now, and is about 2' wide and wide. It is gorgeous. The foliage on astilbe is so beautiful, very cut leaf, bronzy green for new growth, and the foliage stays pretty nice thru the heat of the summer. Some people leave the flower stalks thru the winter for some winter interest, but I usually cut mine off. They like about the same type soil as most hostas, and other shade loving plants, compost, cow manure, and peat moss (the magical blend). I topped it off with some hu-more this spring and it really looks good. The arendsii's have a slightly coarser look to the leaves, but they're still beautiful. They are a bit smaller, too. They are pretty much carefree plants, no particular insect or disease problems at all.

I don't know how long it will take for your little bare root plants to grow. Do you know what variety they are? I really want to get the ostrich feather astilbe - they are so pretty.

That's about all I can tell you about them.

Susan

Susan, You are so good about knowing the exact names of all these plants. I'm still a novice so can only tell you one kind is red and the other is white. Sounds like it might be worth it to just fork over the money for the plant. The one I saw was from a source I really trust, so maybe I should just do that - if she still has it. Thanks.

You might check at Home Depot or Lowe's. They probably have some pretty good prices on them. The regular pink is call a Rheinland - I knew I'd remember that eventually.

Have fun - astilbes are one of the easiest plants to grow and they're very pretty.

Susan

I've had better luck with the plants myself. Especially if the weather turns off cold and wet. The corms rot easily.

Ok. That's good enough for me. I did see astilbe in the Lowe's flyer this weekend. Bad thing about our Lowe's is that they have a tendency to not have the stuff advertised in the flyers. Very annoying. They had Japanese painted fern advertised a few weeks ago, and I have yet to see it there. I'm anxious to try astilbe. I think it will look great in my yard. Thanks, guys.

I was at Home Depot today (OKC South Sheilds) and saw some healthy Astilbe plants.

Also, I did the bagged bare roots about a month ago. I managed to fine on that was beginning to sprout already. After I planted it I could see the barely sprouted tips then they disappeared. I kept my eye on it and after a bout another week (last week) and still no sign, I watered the spot I had it planted and yesterday noticed it was growing again.

I rarely have luck with the bare roots plants. I will sometimes if I find some that do have the beginnign of growth.

Cheryl

I was in OKC earlier this week and found a potted astilbe at Home Depot for about half what they are charging at the Lowe's in my town - so I bought it and planted it last night. When I was planting it, I looked really closely and found what I think is a sprout of the bagged one. Hard to tell with all the other stuff trying to grow in my beds, though. Only problem with the one from HD is that I have no idea what color it is. There was nothing on the tag to indicate that, and the buds weren't open enough so that I could tell. It does look fairly healthy, though. Thanks. Pat

I got my astilbe's in OKC a couple weeks ago and they were in 4 inch pots and budded. Nice size plants and if I remember right only $2.95. Problem is I cant remember the nurseries name. Ill have to ask my bf in the morning and post if he remembers.,,,,Debbie

Cheryl, I wanted to say something about your comment on losing bare root plants, etc. You know, it's funny, but most of the time I lose those plants, too. However, the really odd thing is that sometimes they'll come up a year, 2 years, or 3 years later, after I thought they had died. This happened with my lily of the valley pips. I bought them cheap at HD and planted them about 4 years ago. Just last year, I got 2 LV sprouts! This year, I have 4! It's just amazing how these things really do want to survive so much that they surprise us like that. So, keep on the look out, you may see something one of these days, and have to dig back into the depths of your memory to recall what you planted many moons ago.

Susan

Susan,

This is what I am hoping for. I did the same with Lily of the Vallies 2 springs ago and they still have not made an appearance. :-( One of my favorites so maybe one day they will pop up.

Thanks for the encouragment.

Cheryl

I have always wondered what that pod like thing is that grows in caladiums. Is it a form of flower or a seed pod? I have two new ones and one has two of them and one has none. Should I leave it alone?

Thanks

Terri

I have absolutely horrible luck with the bareroot plants. I bought approx 15 bareroot phlox this year, and none of them came up. I also bought several hosta and caladium, and none of those made it. So, I broke down and bought potted hostas, and those are doing wonderfully.

No more bareroot plants for me.